(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
On Friday, April 26, two former Major League Baseball first basemen and designated hitters signed contracts to play in Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
On Friday, the Zona Norte club announced that Yermin Mercedes will join the Saraperos de Saltillo. Earlier this month, Mercedes signed a contract with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Instead, he will return to the LMB, playing 20 games with the Acereros de Monclova in 2023.
Mercedes was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and played 100 MLB games from 2020-22 with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants. He burst onto the scene in 2021 for Chicago, hitting seven home runs in 68 games, even winning American League Rookie of the Month honors in April.
After White Sox manager Tony La Russa made critical comments about Mercedes, he struggled at the plate and was demoted to Triple-A Charlotte. He played just 31 games for San Francisco in 2022 and posted a .668 OPS.
Most recently, Mercedes hit .170 with 24 strikeouts in 26 games for the Toros del Este of Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.
The second first baseman is Luke Voit, who joins the Olmecas de Tabasco of Zona Sur, the club announced on their official X account on Saturday. This season will be Voit’s first in the LMB.
Voit led the MLB with 22 home runs during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season but has struggled to stay consistent the last three seasons with the San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Voit, 33, was released from his minor league contract by the New York Mets in March and played just 22 MLB games with the Brewers in 2023. His power remains, but his playing time has diminished. Voit played a career-high 135 games with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres in 2022 but just 75 games between 2022 and 23 due to numerous injuries.
Despite ranking in the sixth percentile for sprint speed in 2022 and never being known for his glovework, Voit can provide the Olmecas de Tabasco power in the middle of the lineup and a veteran presence in the clubhouse.
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol fans can watch the 2024 regular season using Jonron. TV.